Clint Capela on the Hawks season

[HMFFL]

I took this from the General Board.

“Our approach the entire season, we were already thinking we were going to the playoffs,” Capela told The Athletic after Monday’s practice. “Our approach wasn’t about the next game; it was, ‘Oh, we won this. We won that.’ That’s the problem with teams that are not used to this. I’m not so shocked.”

Chris Khrischner, Hawks Reporter
It sometimes seems like this team just expects to win by rolling the basketball out on the floor.

Clint Capela
"I felt like this team in the beginning of the season, we thought we would be right back to where we were. I mentioned it to everyone early in the season because it happened to me in the past (with Houston). Whenever you think that way, it’s hard to get back there. I mentioned it, but I still feel like this team still thinks that we are already going to the playoffs, we’re going back, and I tell them, and I tell myself always that we’re never guaranteed anything today. Why should we be talking about the playoffs today when we’re not guaranteed anything? Our approach should be how can we best prepare ourselves for the next game? That’s how it should always be."

Chris Khrischner, Hawks Reporter
I asked you earlier in the season about the defense struggling, and you told me to ask you about it later in the season because you believed it was going to turn around. The defense is still struggling.

Clint Capela
Where are we right now?

Chris Khrischner, Hawks Reporter
Where do you think?

Clint Capela
We’re in the last 10.

Chris Khrischner, Hawks Reporter
Yeah. You’re 27th.

Clint Capela
Geez.

Chris Khrischner, Hawks Reporter
Why do you feel like it hasn’t improved?

Clint Capela
Because I feel like it comes from the mindset of everybody. If you’re always thinking about offense, you’re always going to feel like offense is an issue. If you’re more defensive-minded, you’re going to take more pride on defense. I feel like the team we are, we’re more offensive-minded. There aren’t a lot of guys who take pride on defense, so it’s hard. I’m mostly a defensive-minded guy, but it’s a team thing. Your team has to be defensive-minded. It can’t be just him or him or him. Everyone. So, it is what it is.

https://theathletic.com/3129687/2022/02/15/clint-capela-has-an-honest-assessment-of-the-hawks-season-long-struggles-im-not-so-shocked/


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[Galloisdaman]

I totally agree with him and I kind of expected it before the season. People were getting too carried away. Last seasons success was about effort. Team will not win based on talent alone. Need more team first play and effort. Its part of being a young teamn

[DirtybirdGA]

I heard someone say they got their belles full, so their no longer hungry... they play like it.

[Jamaaliver]

I'm glad someone finally said it. And I'm glad it was CC, the most respected (and useful) of the veterans on this team. And this seems aimed at Trae after he stated earlier that the regular season is boring.

I get exhausted hearing players, fans talking about we'll be fine just because we were successful last season. That's not how it works. The 2016 season should have taught us that.

Everyone started the new season 0-0. And other teams have been hungrier and, TBH, better constructed than we have. We got complacent; this is the result.

[DirtybirdGA]

Me too, what is fine? Making the playoffs? I guess that's so

[D21]

One positive point is that ATL has the second or third (depending on websites) easiest schedule remaining among Eastern teams with IND and WAS (TOR also has one of the easiest schedule).
But they have to not turn it into a negative points by not taking seriously enough the other teams!

There is one thing I would like them to stop (unless really necessary) when the game is closed : the inbound with the ball rolling and rolling and Trae starting the clock at half-court. Why ? because I saw it so many times, and most of the times, the defense took this opportunity to be prepared and ATL missed the shot and gives a fast break to the other team.
I saw it also with end of quarter and 30 or 35s left, playing the 2 for 1 possessions, and in the end, ATL makes 2 bad plays while the opponent have a good one. If you want to play 2 for 1 possessions, you make the first one as fast as possible and shot fast if you can, if not, take your time. But it's even more stupid to play it after letting the ball roll like that and the defense being ready.
I don't know how is possible that Nate did not see it and change that.

And too many fast 3s taken while our C/PF are just under the basket, where the rebound will never ends up with these kind of shots.

On a side note, the way CHA is playing since some games, it gives hopes to finish ahead of them, but we won't get their pick this year (Top18 protected this season, then Top16, Top14 and Top14)